Geno Auriemma & Olympics: Geno Going for Gold and Then??

As I mentioned a previous blog, there's really only two more things left for UConn's Hall of Fame Coach Geno Auriemma to accomplish -- be head coach of an Olympic basketball team & coach a men's college basketball team.

Looks like he's nailed the first one. Can the second one be far behind?

Just sayin.

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I am so tired of hearing that is would be an "accomplishment" for Coach Auriemma to coach a men's team. It seems to imply that coaching women's basketball is "less than" coaching men. I'll take the women's game over the men's game any day! The women play what to me is REAL basketball . . playing as a team & using a lot of strategy. . . as opposed to indiidual "egos" mostly slam dunking & hanging off the rim to show up the other team. I hope Geno stays with coaching the women & continues to bring the Women's Basketball even more to the forefront.

Get a life Stan. You're not thought of as a Prophet since the notion of Geno coaching the USA Olympic team was broached back in February. Can your second suggestion be far behind? Yes Stan it's way far behind, and it makes about as much sense as it did in your first Blog. Readers want facts and not insane speculation that's geared to create controversy and gossip.

Stan: I agree with Jude and Mike, why is coaching men better than coaching women? Are you implying men are more equal than women? Hmmmmmmmm......

Geno's style fits the women's game to perfection. He likes a lot of control -- in what they wear (no jeans, matching socks, etc.), to tattoos (nothing visible ever), to behavior (no iPods when in public, how to speak to the press, etc.), to the idea of TEAM (no ego, no "I"). His will be done, not the will of any other person. This kind of expectation does not translate well to the men's game, much less the pros. Can you see Geno trying to tell Kobe Bryant how to behave, or what he can or cannot draw on his body? Can you see him telling a top male recruit that he has to have his body art removed? I think not. Nor does he wish to lower his own personal standards.

Geno is coaching in CT because he loves it. And he is coaching the women's game because he loves it. And he loves his players. And they love him. There is no reason and no purpose for him to "move on." He is happy, and so is the University. I don't think he would have it any other way.

Two of you have hit on something. Indeed there would be an adjustment, maybe a significant one, to make in coaching men. That's exactly why Geno should take on the challenge. He's mastered the women's game.

Could the coaching style and approach he uses with the women work with men? ... I think it would, because it still comes down to convincing elite players to subjugate their egos for the good of the team. Is that a harder challenge when working with men ? Bill Bellichick of the Patriots may not think so. Others would disagree.

6 national tites. 3 undefeated seasons. Induction into the Hall of Fame. The next challenge for Geno is winning Gold as head coach of an Olympic team.

In 2012, Geno will be 58. If an opportunity comes up on the men's side -- and it makes sense for him -- why not test himself there? What does he have to lose? His legacy is set.

I know this idea Stan promotes continues to face a great deal of criticism, but as someone who loves the women's game and enjoys men's college basketball as well - I would love to see Geno to lead a men's college team to improve the quality of the game. With a few notable exceptions(Tom Izzo's Michigan State teams come to mind), the quality of play and lack of teamwork at some of the major college programs has diminished the quality of the game. I think Geno could recruit the kind of players who well maybe not being ready to jump into the NBA their freshman or sophomore year - would embrace his approach to the game and enhance the quality of the men's game and remove the myth that a women's basketball coach couldn't be a successful men's basketball coach.

Writer's block?
When nothing new or insightful comes to mind, just recycle a previous post? Maybe it's time to scale down your mountain to a less challenging level. Just sayin.
Nobody's buying it. You should stop trying to sell it.

Hello fellow UCONN fans.Look... there is no doubt that Geno would be successful coaching men. I just wonder if HE would be as happy as he is with the ladies. I think what Geno has done with the ladies program is one of the greatest coachig jobs this worl has ever seen. Pat and UTENN had it all. Who had ever heard of Geno or UCONN. Then, he started winning early with less than great athletes.Rebecca came and things started to change.Now they have caught and passes UTENN and Pat, now we are on top of the summitt of ladies bball. I will say this ...I would hate to know that Geno would not be coaching UCONN ladies tomorrow.
ROLL ON UCONN BECAUSE AS LONG AS U HAVE GENO UCAN!!

Stan – Your comments here certainly sound sexist to me, but did I miss an earlier article of yours? After Calhoun won 2 titles, did you suggested that it's time for him to scale a new mountain and take on a new challenge - such as coaching a women's college team to a national championship?

As I mentioned in an earlier post, if Calhoun had won 6 national titles, including 3 undefeated seasons, and was in his mid-50s like Geno, then, yes, it would certainly be appropriate to suggest he take the next step up -- and that would be the professional level.

The "sexist'' label is really silly. Let's not pretend that the women's game is the same as the men's. It's not. The players are better. The competition is better. That's why they have separate leagues. There is no disputing that.

Suggesting Geno take his coaching skills to the next level with the men is not to diminish what he's accomplished with the women, or the women's game itself. Let's get real on this.

Why is everyone's Fruit of the Looms all bunched up over this! The men's game is light years ahead of the women's...checkout the attendance figures, the amount of money CBS is willing to pay to broadcast the men, and the general interest. Check out the first five or six stories on ESPN...women's hoops is usually the seventh or eighth story...way down on the priority list...facts are facts.

Stan in my opinion is just stating the Geno has totally mastered the women's game...why not explore the more challenging men's game?

I am actually more concerned about a more recent post on this blog-Stan who cares about the race of a criminal? A criminal is criminal...race, or gender shouldn't matter-just keep that person away from my family.

We agree on the Geno thing. Simple enough to understand. You've stated it well.

In regards to race and the criminal justice system, there has been too much selective prosecution going on. For example, Blacks and Latinos make up 75 percent of the CT prison population, but only 22 percent of the state's population. Most are coming from urban centers; most are in for drug-related crimes.

Check on my column Saturday in courant.com . I talk about a new study showing a big decrease in the percentage of Blacks in prison for drug-related crimes, but a huge increase in Whites in for drug crimes. This is a significant finding, Todd, and will play a factor in this renewed dialogue about making street drugs legal.